Administrative Corruption – Institutional Framework and Anti- Corruption Legislation in the Public Administration of Serbia

Abstract

Serbia is an independent post-Yugoslav multi-ethnic state in the Western Balkan region of Southeastern Europe. Serbia and the EU signed the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) committing the country to harmonize its legislation with the EU acquis communautaire. In reference to anti-corruption in the public administration, the Agreement emphasizes the commitment of Serbia “to combat organized crime, corruption, money laundering, illegal migration and trafficking.” The first National Anti-Corruption Strategy was adopted in 2005 with the corresponding Action Plan. The implementation of this Strategy faced many difficulties as the inconsistent content “caused confusion about which activities should be undertaken and under whose competence” (OSCE). Consequently, a set of anti-corruption laws was adopted in the following period, including the Law on the Anti-Corruption Agency which went into force in 2010. The second National Anti-Corruption Strategy for the period 2013–2018 was adopted in 2013 with the Agency, inter alia designated to supervise its implementation, deal with conflict of interest, property disclosure and pronounce measures in case of violation. Accordingly, the Criminal Code prescribes criminal offences on corruption charges of public officials. However, in the 2018 Serbia progress report of the European Commission stated that “corruption remains prevalent in many areas and continues to be a serious problem.” Administrative Court cases and relevant statistics are presented showing that “abuse of office” was the most widespread corruption offence of public officials.

Srbija je nezavisna postjugoslovenska multietnička država u regionu Zapadnog Balkana jugoistočne Evrope. Srbija i EU potpisale su Sporazum o stabilizaciji i pridruživanju (SSP) koji je obavezao zemlju da uskladi svoje zakonodavstvo sa aquis communitaire EU. U vezi sa antikorupcijom u javnoj upravi, Sporazum naglašava posvećenost Srbije „u borbi protiv organizovanog kriminala, korupcije, pranja novca, ilegalnih migracija i trgovine ljudima“. Prva nacionalna strategija za borbu protiv korupcije usvojena je 2005. godine sa odgovarajućim akcijonim planom. Implementacija ove Strategije suočila se sa mnogim poteškoćama jer je neprecizan sadržaj „izazvao zbunjenost o tome koje aktivnosti treba preduzimati i ko je za njih nadležan“ (OSCE). Shodno tome, u narednom periodu usvojen je niz zakona o borbi protiv korupcije, uključujući Zakon o Agenciji za borbu protiv korupcije, koji je stupio na snagu 2010. godine. Druga nacionalna strategija za borbu protiv korupcije za period 2013–2018. usvojena je 2013. godine. Agencija je, između ostalog, određena za nadzor nad njegovom primenom i pitanjima sukoba interesa, objavljivanja imovine i izricanja mera u slučaju kršenja. Krivični zakon propisuje krivična dela za korupciju javnih službenika. Međutim, u 2018. godini u Izveštaju Evropske komisije o napretku Srbije konstatovano je da „korupcija ostaje preovlađujuća u mnogim područjima i nastavlja da predstavlja ozbiljan problem“. Prikazani slučajevi Upravnog suda i relevantne statistike pokazuju da je „zloupotreba položaja“ najrašireniji prekršaj javnih funkcionera.